Method of producing display sign material



April 15, 1941 M. K. PATTEN 2,238,073

METHODOF PRODUCIHG DISPLAY SIGN MATERIAL Filed Nov. 18, 1938 5Sheets-Sheet 1 April 15', 1941- M. K. PATTEN 2,238,073

METHOD OF PRODUCIHG DISPLAY SIGN `MATERIAL.

Filed Nov. 18, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet. 2

April 15, 1941. M. K. PATTEN 2,238,073

METHOD 0F PRODUCIHG DISPLAY` SIGN MATERIAL Filed Nov. 18, 1938 3Shoets-Sheet 3 F3920 3? 'UNT and then after the drying of the 'the foilfrom the film.

'When` a composite film is formed in this'man- Y' Patented Apr. 15, 1941UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD F PRODUCING DISPLAY SIGN MATERIALMurray K. Patten, Westchester, lll.

Application November 18, 1938, Serial No. 241,182

14 Claiml.

My invention relates particularly to painted display 'signs and toimproved methods ot prociucing them and attaching them permanently inposition on a support. Some of the methods involved are applicable touses other than in connection with display signs, and my inventionrelates accordingly to s uch other related matters.

My improved methods comprise the step of painting letters or otherdesigns directly on the lace of a flexible metal foil, and then, afterthe paint film has dried, stripping off the foil and applying the filmto a window or other piece of glass or to some other suitable support,such as a truck body, for example. It is well known that when a iilm ofhigh grade paint or varnish or lacquer has been applied in liquid formon the lace of a piece of metal foil and dried thereon, auch. film isvery strongly bonded to the foil so as to be adapted to adhere to thefoil under norrnal conditions for a long period of years. I have found,however, that if a foil having a film of paint dried thereon besupported on a table or panel with the film next to the panel the foilcan be readily stripped from the film by being drawn backwardly uponitself at a sharp` angle, this result being effected without injuringthe paint film in any way. So far as I am aware, I am the first in theart to prepare a film of paint or varnish or lacquer by applying it by awet painting operation on the face of a metal foil and then after thelm'has dried .stripping the foil from the film. So far as 'I vam aware,I amtheilrst in the art to preparea composite .lmfofjpaintor varnish vorlacquer,l by -irst applyingon a portion of the face oi a,

4 methods, by which a. water sealing eiIect is utimetal foil a film of`the material in' eitherwet'f or pre-driediorrn, then byawet'painting'proc- V ess applying a second film of such material oneffect integrally connected therewith when dried,

iilm stripping ner with adjacent film Vportions overlapping, it

is likely that the fum wiii be @different thick-'f1 nesses at differentpoints, butin any such cas the faces of the adjacent illm portions areal-` ways precisely flush withv eachother attheface of the foil so'as4to present a perfectly smoothV v and even conformation without shouldersor other r unevenness at. the lsurface-'from which the foil is removed.

sition. I have found that such a method of tem-L vporarily securingparts in position is very con 4adjusting them to their desired130511210113 Wlthl-'f drawings. In the drawings, many of the nish isthus formed in the shape of letters or other designs, or in the shape ofa plain sheet. such film can be very securely attached to a piece ofglass or other smooth solid support by merely rubbing it down smoothlyon the support with water so as to insure the removal of all air orother extraneous matter, a permanent bond being developed in the courseof a fairly short time by which the nlm is securely held in posi- Myimproved methods comprise also the formation of a sign or the likeincluding a preformed decalcomania, for example, in which the decalcomania is caused to unite in substantially integral form with theadjacent portions of the sign, or by which a plurality of preformeddecalcomanias or other paint iilm portions are united together eitherwith or without additional display subject matter. This result isattained preferably by placing the decalcomanias or other pre.` formedpaint hlm products in position upon a piece of metal foil and paintingbetween and around thedecalcomanias so as to bind them to the foil. thefoil being stripped from the composite paint iilm after the completedrying oi' the assembly.

My improved methods relate also to the production and use ofsilk screenstencils, either in connection with my other improvements or otherwise.The invention includes also improved methods or handling pieces of foil,pieces of paper, or other parts which it is desired to attach releasablytogether for carrying out my improved' lized for holding the partstemporarily in povenlent, particularly in that there is no tacki` nessto be combated` and in that the partscanv bey manipulated andshiftedwithout limit for ly in their finally adjustedl positions.

My invention relates also to other features of v improvement ashereinafter set forth. The'pre i l out destroying thelrtendency to beheldsecureferred methods as'worln'ed out by me-'are explained inconnection with the accompanying arev broken awayv at one portion so astol enable the layer or layers underneath in the assembly to beseen. Thethickness of the parts is` also exaggerated in many instancesgthedrawings 'g being more or less diagrammatic for clearnessof,

illustration. r I

In the drawings- Fig. 1 illustrates nn intermediate assembly of partsin'positlon on a table in the course-oi' the formation and attachment ofa sign to a support;

Fig. 2 illustrates a second intermediate assembly of parts in positionon a panel in the course ol tho same operation as shown in part in Fig.1:

Fig. 3 illustrates the step of removing a foil from a film painted onthe foil. being a step in the operation illustrated in part in Figs. 1and 2 and likewise a step in many of the hereinafter describedoperations;

Fig. 4 illustrates the application of the completed sign to a window;

Fig. 5 illustrates the assembly involved in the connection of' aplurality of decalcomanias and other display subject matter into theform of a single integral paint film;

Fig. 6 illustrates the assembly employed in connectlon with theformation of a film with a plurality of preformed letters or otherpatterns held in position thereby ready for application to a window orthe like;

Figs. '7 and 8 illustrate related assemblies employed in the formationofA a silk screen stencil and involving the use of preformed letters orother patterns;

Fig. 9 illustrates an assembly developed in connection with that shownin Fig. 7 whereby a sign or the like is provided by the use of a silkscreen and preformed letters or other patterns;

Figs. l0 and 11 illustrate related assemblies employed in connectionwith the production of a sign and its attachment to a support such as awindow by the use of preformed letters or other patterns and without theuse of a silk screen;

Fig. 12 illustrates an assembly for use in the production' of a silkscreen stencil by cutting a design directly in a metal foil;

Fig. 13 illustrates an assembly for use in the production of a slightlydifferent form of silk screen stencil by cutting the design'directly inthe foil;

Figs. 14 and 15 illustrate assemblies by which a design is cut directlyin a foil and employed for painting a sign therewith directly on awindow or other support;

Figs. 16, 17 and 18 illustrate assemblies by which a sign is formed andplaced on a support such as a window, involving the step of cutting a Udow; and

Fig. 20 illustrates an assembly involving the connection of two paintfilms of different colors into substantially integral form by paintingone layer on a foil directly on top of the edge portion of a previouslypainted and dried paint lm so as to provide flush face portions at thedisplay face when the foil is later stripped from the film; and

Fig. 21 illustrates a modified form of sign or poster to be secured indisplay position in a novel manner.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, indicatesatable upon which .a piece of metal foil 3| is secured'by means of apiece of water-soaked paper 32, the foil being secured in position bybeing rubbed down smoothly on the paper and table so as to be held by awater seal, The foil 3l is provided with a design 33 cut therein afterthe foil is secured on the table. the design being in the form of aword, one letter of which is visible in Fig. l, the cut portion of thefoil being removed. A second metal foil 3l is secured by a water sealupon the stencil foil 3|. After the assembly is formed as shown in Fig.1, it is released from the table and is rubbed down with water ininverted position upon a sheet metal plate or panel 35, with the secondfoil 34 next to the panel. 'I'he piece of paper 32 is then stripped fromthe assembly and paint of one color is applied through the design of thestencil. Thereafter, and preferably after the initial layer' of painthas almost completely dried, the stencil foil 3l is stripped from theassembly and a second coat of paint of a different color is placed ontop of the dried paint so as to cover the base foil 32. The paintfllrnis indicated in Fig. 2 by the numeral 36. After the assembly hascompletely dried, a watersoaked paper 31, preferably, is secured inposition by means of water-soluble glue, with its margins extendingbeyond the assembly so as to engage the panel 35. When the paper hasdried, its margin portions are cut off for releasing the assembly fromthe panel, and the assembly is inverted into the position as shown inFig. 3. The base foil 34 is then turned backwardly upon itself at asharp angle and thus stripped from the paint lrn 36, this beingaccomplished without injuring the paint lm in any way. I'he paint i-llm36 and paper backing sheet 31 are then soaked in water for some littletime so as to permit the paint film to absorb a supply of water,whereupon the assembly is applied in its display position upon a window38, as shown in Fig. 4, the film being rubbed down very carefully uponthe glass so as to force out any air or water which may have beentrapped. The paper 31 is then stripped from the face of the film 3G,after which a coat of varnish may be applied over the back of the signat the left in Fig. 4 if desired.

I have found that when a film such as 36 is rubbed down with water upona smooth solid support such as the glass 38, the film in the course ofseveral hours assumes a strongly bonded relation to the glass such as tocause it to adhere as strongly as if the film had been painted directlyon the glass. This is caused by the gradual diffusion of the watermolecules of the water lm through the imprisoning paint film due to thehigher vapor pressure of the water film with respect to normalatmospheric vapor pressure.

vAs the water molecules depart, atmospheric pressure forces the pliablepaint film particles into the pores of the surface 38 to take the placeof the water and a permanent bond between the film 36 and the glass 38is thus established. Inasmuch. as the face of the lm which was formednext to the base foil is the face which is applied against the glass 38,it will be appreciated that there is no break in the contact between thelm and the glass, with the result that an effective bond is assured.

In the preparation of a sign by the use of the means shown in Fig. 5, Irst secure a sheet of metal foil 39 upon a table 40 by means of a Waterseal. I then place one or more decalcomanias 4| in position upon thefoil 39, the paper and the gelatin having been removed from thedecalcomanias which are then rubbed down with water v upansthe-j-.foilwithf'the'irl'display faces the base foil by means of a water seal. Theagainstth'e foil.- Therdecalcomanias 4I are arbase foil 4l is thenloosened from the table or franged inspaced relation :to eachothen'andat 'mother support and a silk screen-50 is placed in least a portion-of'the margin bleach of themecalcomanias is arranged inside-of themargin-,of the proposed sign asdenedrordinarily,bythe' v size ofthe-foil I9. A layer o'fpaint or is then applied upon the inside marginadry and the base foil 48 is stripped backwardof the decalcomanias andon the adjacent 'face lyupon itself at a sharp angle out of contact withportions oi the foil 39, such layer of paint in lothe letters` and thegelatin, leaving the letters sethe arrangement shown being indicated bythe `c`ed in position upon the silk by the gelatin.

reference character 42. If desired, a stencil. The lgelatin as exposedabout the letters on the may be employed at a portion of the face of theassembly is then removed, preferably by moistensign alongside of thedecalcomanias 4I, being ing the assembly by means of a cotton balllsoaked held in placel on the foil by a water seal, the with water, andthe assembly is again dried.

portion of the paint film 42 at the part` of the After the removal ofthe gelatin, a layer of foil upon which the stencil 43 is located beinglacquer 52 is applied over the letters upon theV applied in-two or morelayers by successive paint- 'l silk, the letters being removed after thelayer ing operations, the stencil being removed in the of lacquer haspartially set but before it is comcourse of the painting operation andthe paint pletely dried, as is indicated by the opening 53 film beingcontinuous and unbroken over the in the lacquer 52 from which a letterhas been stencil portion o'f the sign. For applying the removed. Theremaining portions'of the gelatin name of a dealer, or the like, inconnection with are then washed out of the screen, whereupon the sign, Ihave employed aplurality of pre-v the screen is ready for use as astencil for the formed metal foil letters 44 which are secured 25formation of signs as is readily understood.

in position by a water seal upon the face of the In Fig. 9, I haveillustrated means by which a foil 39 in appropriate position, the paintlm slightly different process is carried out. With 42 being applieddirectly over such preformed the assembly formed as above described inconletters. After the paint film has dried, the denection with Fig. 7,with letters 49 held in posicalcomanias 4I, the metal foil letters 44,and the 30 tion upon a silk screen 50 by means of a layer additionalsign subject matter prepared by the of gelatin 5i, I apply a layer ofpaint 54 over the use of the stencil 43 are all connected togetherentire face of the assembly on top of the gelatin by the paint filmwhich is preferably continuand the letters 49, and remove the letters 49ous and coextensivc with the foil 39. The paint before the completedrying of the layer of paint, illm 42 serves effectively to hold thefoil letters 35 as indicated at 56 in said Fig. 9. After the paint 44 inposition, and is connected by substantially is dry, I apply a secondlayer of paint 55 of a an integral bond with the decalomanias. VAfterdifferent color over at least the portion of the the complete drying ofthe paint film, a paper first layer in which the letter openings 56 arebacking may or may not be applied by means found, such second layer ofpaint being applied of a water seal or otherwise, but whetheror notdirectly upon the gelatin. After the complete the paper backing isapplied the assembly is redrying ofthe assembly, the screen is moistenedleased from the table and the foil 39 is stripped so as to soften thegelatin for loosening the paint fromtheface .of the sign.v The foil isof course film from the silk screen. The paint film would very readilydetachable from the face portions be reinforced by a. backing sheetbefore its deof-the decalcomanias and the vface portions of 45 tachmentfrom the silk if desired, or it might be the Apreformed letters 4,4',and is stripped from handled without such reinforcement. The opthepainted portions of the sign in the same eration in connection with theparts as shown manner as -isdescribed'above in connection with in Fig. 9is effective for producing only a single the; foil 34 as 'shown in Fig.3. In the final sign as compared with the production of a stencilpl'duct. the display face 0f the 0011111051158 Sign 50 asrshown in Fig.8 capable of use for producing r comprising the decalcomanias. thepreformed many Signs,

`terns 46 formed oi.' metal foil or other suitable letters. and thepaint `fll'fl. 1S Smooth and even In Figs. 10 and 11, I have shown themeans for thl'ughout with the. display face portions a preparing asingle sign without using a silk screen precisely 311511 with eachOtherand without the necessity for using paint for the In thearrangement of parts as shown in Fig. 6, I provide a metal foil 45 heldin position upon a table or otherwise and apply upon the face of thefoil one or more letters or other patproduction of the sign. In thepreferred method, I apply a piece of foil 5l upon a steel plate or panel58, the foil being secured in position by a water seal. Upon the foil51, I secure a plurality f letters or other preformed patterns 59 whichmaterial, such patterns being preferably secured 60 o m position by awater seal. over the letters are secured in the desired spaced relatlonby .ai I apply a layer of. gelatin "Y ,md after the y means of a waterseal. Over the foil and patgelatin as dried I strip the base foil 45from ferns 5 9, I mollrit a piece of gelatinized paperill the ass bly,leaving the pattern or patterns 43 in molst condltion wlth lts marglnsextending held in position by the layer of gelatin 41 ready 65 half aninch beyond the base foil 51 so as to be for application to the face ofa Window or other Secured dlrectly I IPOII the Panei 53- After theSuitable support assembly has dried, the gelatimzed papen 1s Referringnew to Figs. '1 and s, which ulusloosened from the plate. preferably bvcutting trate a different combination of cooperating thfeXeIldingmargins 0f the paper. and the foil parts, 48 indicates a piece of metalfoil which 70 57 1S Stripped from the faCe 0f the paper, leavis securedupon a table or other Support by lng the letters or other patterns 59held in posimeans of a water seal or otherwiseso as v'to be OII by thegelatin 0n the paper. The assembly in position to receive a pluralitylof preformedv f is then moistened and rubbed down upon va piece lettersor other patterns 49 made preferably ofl of glass 6i with the lettersnext to the glass. metal foil, such patterns being secured uponwhereupon the paper is stripped from the letters,

of metal foil 64 by a water seal upon the paper.

I then cut a design in the foil 64, cutting entirely through the foilbut not entirely through the paper, the design in the arrangement shownin Fig. 12 comprising a plurality of letters 65, the cut-out portions ofthe foil being removed. A piece of silk 66 is then placed over thestencil foil, and a layer of paint is pressed through the silk by meansof a squeegee so as to secure the silk to the stencil. The assembly isthen removed from the. table and the base paper 62 is stripped olf,leaving the stencil held in position on the silk by the layer of paint,with the stencil ready for use for the preparation of any desired numberof copies in accordance with methods well understood.

When the stencil is to be stored for future use, a piece of foil ispreferably applied by means of a water seal upon the face of the stencilwhich is then loosened from the screen by the application of turpentinethereto, the connected stencil foil and protecting foil being rubbeddown upon a steel plate for storage. For remounting the stencil upon asilk screen for repeated use, the two pieces of foil are stripped offthe steel plate and are placed against the silk screen with the stencilfoil inside. Thereupon a layer of paint is forced through the silk bymeans of a squeegee for securing the stencil in position and theprotecting foil is pulled off leaving the assembly ready for use.

For preparing a stencil by the means as shown in Fig. 13, a layer oflacquer B1 is applied in any suitable manner upon a piece of foil 68 andthe foil is rubbed down upon a table 69 with a water-soaked strip ofpaper 18 interposed between the foil and the table so as to secure thefoil in position by a water seal with the layer of lacquer facingupwardly. A design is then cut in the lacquer covered foil 68 so as tocut entirely through the foil but not through the paper, the design inthe arrangement shown comprising a plurality of letters 1|, the cut-outportions being removed. A piece of silk 12 is then placed in positionupon the layer of lacquer and is secured in position by moistening thelacquer through the silk by means of a lacquer-soluble agent, afterwhich the assembly is removed from the table and the paper is Adifferent arrangement of parts for use for painting a sign directly upona window or other piece of glass is shown by Figs. 1 and 19. In the useof this means as shown in said two figures, a foil 8| is secured uponthe table 30 by means of a water seal with the water-soaked paper 32intervening, after which a design 33 is cut in the foil and at least aportion of the cutout foil is removed. A second piece of foil 84 is thensecured by means of a water seal upon the stencil foil 3|, after whichthe assembly is removed from the table and the paper base 32 pulled oi,leaving the foil 68 held in position by the lacquer ready for use.

For preparing a stencil by a simple process for painting a sign directlyupon a window, for example, I secure a piece of metal foil 13 upon atable 14 with a water-soaked piece of paper 15 interposed between thefoil and the table (see Figs. 14 and 15) and then cut a design therein,the design as shown in Fig. 14 comprising a plurality of letters 16 withat least a portion is pulled off, leaving the two foils 3| and 34 heldtogether by a water seal. The two foils are then moistened and rubbeddown upon a window 18, as shown in Fig. 19, with the stencil foil 3|next to the glass, whereupon the base foil 34 is stripped from the foil3|. The sign is then painted upon the glass 18 by the use of the stencilby one or more painting operations as may be desired.

When it is desired that a painted sign be applied upon a window, forexample, at a considerable distance from the shop of the operator, adifferent procedure would be followed. By the use of the parts as shownin Figs. 16, 17 and 18, I have provided a sign in the form of a transferwhich can be prepared complete at the shop and secured quickly andeasily upon a window by a minimum of operations at the job. For thispurpose, I secure a piece of metal foil 19 upon a table by rubbing itdown rmly on the table witha piece of water-soaked paper 8| intervening,after which I cut a design in the foil without cutting through thepaper, the design as shown in Fig. 16 comprising a plurality of letters82. A base foil 83 is then moistened and rubbed down upon the stencilfoil 19, after which the assembly is loosened from the table and rubbeddown with water on a sheet metal plate 84 with the base foil 83 next tothe panel. The paper 8| is then pulled ofi. the assembly whereupon alayer of paint 85 is applied on the base foil comprising one or morecoats of the paint, the final coat being applied over the entire face ofthe base foil 83 after the removal of the stencil foil. After theassembly including the paint 85 is dry, a watersoaked piece of paper 86is secured upon thepaint by means of a water-soluble glue, with marginsextending beyond the paint into engagement with the panel 84. After theassembly again has dried, the paper is released from the panel,preferably by cutting olf the margin portions of the paper, whereuponthe assembly is released from the panel and the base foil 83 is strippedfrom the face of the layer of paint 85. In this condition, the assemblycan be stored for future use or can be carried to any desired point ofuse. For application upon a window 81, the face of the glass ismoistened and the paint -film is rubbed down firmly thereon, the paintlm 85 being iirst preferably soaked in water until it has absorbed aconsiderable quantity of water. Whether the film 85 is first soaked inwater or not, the iilm is very carefully smoothed on the glass so as toremove any water or air bubbles between the parts, after which the paper86 may be stripped from the layer of paint. I have found byv practicethat when a paint film is secured in this manner upon apiece of glass orupon some other smooth solici` surface, the iilm is bonded very stronglyto the support so as to resist any normal tendencies for y paint Ilappliedfupon the foil and dried in position thereon. together with asecond layer of paint 8 I ofv a different color-appliedlater over thelayer lil and engaging the foil alongside of said layer 90. I have foundthat when a secondl 4 ,n aeaiiaovs `i lof a water seal or in any othersuitable manner.- Upon the face of the foil I! there is a layer of layerof paint is applied under such circumstances in contact with a layeralready in position, the initial layer is softened somewhat by thesolvent of the second layer of paint with the result that the two layersof paint are connected into substantially integral form with respect toeach other. the faces of the two layers next to the foil 89 being ofcourse precisely aligned and flush with each other, as was explainedabovein connection with the arrangement shown in Fig. 5

involving the use of decaicomanias. f

Fig. 21 shows a novel form of sign or poster to be mounted securely butremovably in display position. The sign as illustrated comprises aplurallty of letters 92 preferably painted bythe use of a stencil orotherwise upon a piece of metal thatfmy invention is not to the detailsof arrangement and the details of procedure asset forth except so far asthe clalmsmay be so limited, it `being vunderstood thatfchanges mightwell be made without departing from thev spirit of my invention.

I claim: v l. A new method of manufacturing comprising l applying on theface of a piece ofmetal foil a foil 93, the sign including preferably alayer of paint 94 serving as abackground upon the foil Y .coextensivewith the foil. After the sign has dried, the assembly is to -be rubbeddown with water upon a glass, or other smooth hard surface, such as theside face of a truck body, for example. `I havefound that the water sealthus established is `eifectivefor holdingthe assembly very securely inposition so as to resist any tendency of the sign to be shaken loose orto become dislodged under `normal conditions, While at the same time thesign `is capable of being removed with. comparative ease when aipull isapplied directly upon the foil for stripping it from the support. Thesign is accordingly very satisfactory for. use on a truckbody. say.Where it is many times desired' to change the copy at fairly frequentintervals. c l

' I have .not attemptedr'to present an exhaustive l explanation. as vtothe methods available for practicing'gthe novel features set forthabove. Many auxiliary cooperative steps will occur to those 1 skilled inthe art. 'For example, itis clear that a sign might be produced upon apiece of metal foil by almost any known system of printing or lithgraphing'and that such printingwhen` combined 4 fwith. a strengtheninglayer of p aintor varnish 4 remain intact in position onthe paint ilm clwitten thefoii isr stripped of! after the complete layer of paint ofvarnish like covering materialv adapted toharden into continuoushomogeneous form, and thenafter the material has hardened separating thefoil from the vhardened' material by stripping the foil backwardiy uponitself at a i sharp angle.

2. A new method of manufacturing 'comprising f forming a product insheet form on the face of av piece of flexible metal foil from awater-insoluble material adapted to be spread readily on the foil andadapted when so spread to dry into the form of.` a flexible film firmlybonded to the foil, and

then after the material has` dried separating the f'oil from the lm bystripping the foil backwardly upon itself at a sharp angle. l

4. A new method of manufacturing comprising forming a product in sheetform on the face of a piece of flexible metal foil from a paint orvarnish v ike covering material adapted to be spread readily on the foiland adapted when so spread to dry,

into .the form of a exible film rmly bonded to the foil, reinforcing andstiening the film somewhat by causing a backing sheet to adherereleasably to the face of the foil, then separating the Ifoil from thereinforced film by stripping the foil backwardly upon itself at a sharpangle, and then separating the backing sheet'from the film.

drying "oftthe sign. It will be appreciated also that 'f have notdistmguished'closny betweenv paint and varnish in the description as setforth herein, either paint or varnish being serviceable in many of theapplications as described, the

term varnish being used toinclude lacquer. The

expression paint or varnish like covering material i.sused in thespecification and claims to refer to materials which dry into the formof a film in which the particles making up the lm have a fairly strongbond with each other so as to give .the film adegree of strengthindependently of the support upon which it is dried, as distinguishedfrom materials such as gelatin or other weak adhesives. whitewash,Vkalsomine or the like, a thin film of which as applied ordinarily forcovering or cementing purposes has little or no strength in and of`itself independently of the support on which it is applied. I desire tohave the claimsinterpreted as broadly as possible consistent with theirbeing held valid over the prior art and being distinguished fromeachother without too close upon itself.

c 5. A new method of manufacturing comprising applying a layerfofcolored paint or varnish like covering,rr'iaterial-onfaI portion of theface of a Lpiece of flexible metal foil for forming a film thereon, thenapplying a layer of paint or varnish like covering material of adifferent color v on the adjacent portion of the face of said foil forforming a film thereon, .withl the film portions `of diierent colorsubstantially continuous and integral with each other and with theirface portions next tol the `foil precisely aligned flush with each otherand bonded firmly to the face of the foil, and thenl separating the foilfrom the film Aby stripping the foil backwardly 6. A new method of:manufacturing comprising painting adjacent llpfiriions ofthe face ofVathin l metal foil with different'v colors of paint o`r` varnish likecovering-material sov .asl to form Von the foil overlapping filmsintegrally connected to each other and of any desired `,number ofsuccessive layers for giving the desired vthickness vand -4 'strength,and then separating the foil from the Y '5L regard Yto Athe phraseologyvwith respect n to' unf While I prefer to employ themeansand proc- 1essesfas vdescribed above, itfisfto. be understood film by stripping thefoil backwardly upon itself after the film is thoroughly dried.

7. The method of making a. display sign, comprising securing a displayface element in the form of a film face downwardly in position upon apiece of metal foil so as to be readily detachable therefrom and with atleast a. portion of the margin of said element located inside of themargin of the proposed sign, applying a layer of paint or varnish likecovering material adapted to dry in air on the foil adjacent to saiddisplay face element so as to cover at least the inside margin portionof said element and to form a complementary film bonded to the foil andto the element about said inside margin portion with the faces of thefilms ush with each other on the face of the foil, and then separatingthe foil from the film and connected display face element by strippingthe foil backwardly upon itself.

8. The method of making a display sign, comprising securing at least onedecalcomania face downwardly upon a. piece of metal foil so as to bereadily detachable therefrom and with at least a. portion of the marginof the decalcomania lccated inside of the margin of the proposed sign,

n applying a layer of paint or varnish like covering material on thefoil adjacent to said Adecalcomania so as to cover at least the insidemargin portion of the decalcomania and to form a film bonded to the foiland connected substantially integrally with the decalcomania about saidinside margin portion, and then separating the foil from the film andconnected decalcomania by stripping the foil backwardly upon itself.

9. The method of making a display sign, comprising securing at least onedecalcomania face downwardly upon a piece of metal foil so as to bereadily detachable therefrom and with at least a, portion of the marginof the decalcomania located inside of the margin of the proposed sign,then painting in additional sign subject matter on the foil alongside ofthe decalcomania and extending such painted layer over at least theinside margin portion of the decalcomania. so as to form a iilm bondedto the foil and connected substantially integrally with the decalcomaniaabout said inside margin portion, and then separating the foil from thelm and the connected decalcomania by stripping the foil backwardly uponitself.

10. A new method of manufacturing comprising securing a base sheet ofmetal foil by means of a water seal to a metal foil stencil, thenpainting by successive steps on the base foil by the use of the stenciland involving the removal of the stencil, then when the paint film hasdried applying a water-soaked sheet of paper on the face of the film anddrying it smoothly thereon, and then separating the base foil from thepaint film by stripping the foil backwardly upon itself at a sharpangle.

11. A new method of manufacturing comprising applying a layer of paintor varnish like covering material on the face of a piece of exible metalfoil, then after the material has dried into the form of a continuoushomogeneous iilm firmly bondedI to the foil securing a paper backingsheet to the face of the film by means of watersoluble glue, thenseparating the foil from the lm by stripping the foil backwardly uponitself at a sharp angle, then securing the film firmly to the face of asupport, and then'stripping of! the paper from the face of the film.

l2. A new method of manufacturing comprising rubbing down a piece ofmetal foil on a table with a piece of water-soaked paper between thefoil and the table, then forming a stencil by cutting a design in thefoil, removing at least a portion of the cut-out foil, then securing asecond piece of metal foil by Water seal on the stencil foil, thenremoving the assembly from the table and securing it by a water seal ona hard panel with said second foil next to the face of the panel, thenstripping oif the paper and applying paint or varnish like coveringmaterial on the face of said second foil by successive steps employingsuccessively different colors and involving the complete removal of thestencil prior to the application of the nal coat of covering material,and then removing the assembly from the panel after the paint film hasdried and separating said second foil from the paint fllm by strippingthe foil backwardly upon itself at a sharp angle.

13. A new method of manufacturing comprising rubbing down a piece ofmetal foil .on a table with a piece of water-soaked 'paper between thefoil and the table, then forming a stencil by cutting a design in thefoil, removing at least a portion of the cut-out foil, then securing asecond piece of metal foil by water seal on the stencil foil, thenremoving the assembly from the table and securing it by a water seal ona hard panel with said second foil next to the face of the panel, thenstripping off the paper and applying paint or varnish like coveringmaterial on the face of said second foil by successive steps employingsuccessively different colors and involving the complete removal of thestencil prior to the application of the final coat of covering material,then securing a water-soaked piece of paper by means of water-solubleglue on the face of the paint film and panel so as to cause it to drysmooth thereon, then removing the assembly from the panel and separatingthe second foil from the paint lm by stripping the foil backwadly uponitself at a sharp angle, then soaking the assembly in water for allowingthe paint film to absorb a supply of water, then rubbing the assemblydown on the face of a piece of glass for securing it by a water sealkthereon, and stripping the paper from the paint film and the glass.

14. A new method of manufacturing comprising applying on a piece ofmetal foil a plurality of complementary film portions of paint orvarnish like covering material ush with each other and in contact so asto be substantially integral when dry, then separating the foil from thedried composite film by stripping the foil backwardly upon itself at asharp angle, then soaking the film thoroughly for causing the absorptionof a substantial amount of water, and then rubbing the lm down on theface of a piece of glass for securing the film by a water seal on theglass.

MURRAY K. PA'I'I'EN.

